Motorists using the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway have faced hours of severe congestion after repair work on the Kara Bridge reduced available lanes along one of Nigeria’s busiest road corridors.
The disruption followed the commencement of repairs to damaged expansion joints on the bridge on Tuesday, September 8, with traffic at one stage stretching more than 20 kilometres into Lagos.
Some motorists reported journeys lasting as long as six hours as vehicles approaching the bridge were compressed into fewer lanes, while rainfall also affected aspects of the repair operation.
The Federal Government says the rehabilitation is expected to continue until September 22.
For commuters, commercial drivers and freight operators who depend on the route, that means traffic pressure could continue during different phases of the work.
Fewer lanes, more pressure
Authorities said the project would be carried out in phases, with sections of the bridge closed while traffic is redirected through the remaining lanes.
Reports from the corridor showed that four lanes approaching Ogun State were reduced to two shortly before the bridge, creating a major bottleneck around Kara.
Traffic and security personnel, including officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps and other agencies, were deployed to manage movement.
But during the early phase of the repairs, congestion spread deep into Lagos and affected motorists approaching from adjoining routes.
Rainfall on Wednesday added another layer of difficulty, with officials saying it affected the next phase of the work.
Why Kara Bridge is being repaired
The Federal Ministry of Works says the intervention is focused on deteriorating expansion joints on the Kara Bridge.
Officials said the joints had exceeded their service life and required replacement to protect the bridge and improve road safety.
The work had previously been postponed after concerns over traffic management and the notice period given to motorists.
Government officials have appealed to road users to plan ahead and avoid the corridor where possible during the repair period.
The cost to commuters
For motorists, the immediate problem is not the engineering work itself but the scale of disruption it can create around the bridge.
The Lagos–Ibadan Expressway carries commuters, interstate buses, freight vehicles and commercial traffic between Lagos, Ogun State and other parts of the country.
When movement slows around Kara, the consequences spread beyond the bridge.
Workers arrive late. Commercial drivers spend more time and fuel on the road. Freight movement slows. Passengers face longer journeys, while adjoining roads absorb motorists trying to escape the congestion.
Traffic officials had warned that the repair work would affect movement, but the severity of the early gridlock raises a wider question about whether the traffic-management plan is sufficient for a corridor of this importance.
What motorists need to know
The repair programme is scheduled to continue until September 22, meaning temporary restrictions may remain in place while work continues.
Authorities have advised motorists without urgent business along the corridor to consider alternative travel plans and to cooperate with traffic-management officials.
Road conditions, however, can change significantly during the day.
IDNN has established the severe congestion recorded during the early phase of the repairs, including reports of journeys lasting up to six hours.
It has not independently established that traffic conditions now remain at the same intensity.
Motorists travelling through the corridor should therefore rely on current official traffic advisories before departure.
The accountability question
The Federal Government says the repairs are necessary for safety and the long-term condition of the bridge.
The immediate accountability test is whether agencies managing the project can keep one of Nigeria’s most important transport corridors moving while the work continues.
That requires more than asking motorists for patience.
Authorities must show that lane management, traffic deployment and public information are strong enough to prevent each phase of the repair from becoming another multi-hour ordeal.
With work scheduled to continue until September 22, the next test is simple: whether traffic management improves as the project advances.
